Quick-acting valve mechanism for actuating the distributing valve of expansible chamber motors



M mnum 3m& 4 T DUS 2 B .t My. h ms I D m H T o M MR I w .M A AM U 0 E5 L1 V. G. KLEIN ET QUICK-ACTING VALVE MECHANISM FOR ACT VALVE OF AN EXPANSIB Filed April FIG.

March 9, 1948.

V. G. KLEIN ET AL QUICK-ACTING VALVE MECHANISM FOR ACTUATING THE DISTRIBUTING VALVE OF AN EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 15, 1946 Patented Mar. 9,1948

UNITED PATENT o FicE QUIGK-ACTING VALVE MECHANISM FOR AGTUATING THE DISTRIBUTING F EXPANSIBLE CHAMBER MOTORS Victor G. Klein and 'Rudy F. s hueue St. Louis, Mm, assignors "to Lincoln ,EngineeningTCom; 'pany, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of MEissouri Application ApriIIlB, 1946, Serial No. 661,976

This invention relates to valve mechanisms, and, more particularly, to actuating mechanisms for the distributing Valves :ofafluid-operated ireciprocatin g. engines.

.Among the several objects of the invention-may 'be noted the provision of animproved distributing valve-actuating mechanism which functions to provide a desirable quick-acting :clltofi or snap action of the valve at :full engine stroke; the provision of such "an actuating mechanism wherein snap action is attained without mechanical overcentering linkages or the like; the provision-ins. mechanism of jthe class described of an actuator utilizing the operatingmressuredluid 'toefiect the quick cutofl. orsnap action; and.theprovisi'onoi a valve-.actuatingmechanism .of this class having .few and simplepart-s. Other objects will bein part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the .ele- 'ments and combinations of elements, features of construction; and arrangementssof parts which will be exemplified in ithe'structures hereinafter described, and the- ;scope 0f the application. of which will be indicated in the .iol-lowing "claims,

. Elnthe accompanying drawings, in which onebi' variouspossible embodiments :of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is .a longitudinal section through the distributing valve andits actuating mechanism, and through part of 'theenginewith which the valve is associated, being taken on line l--I iii Fig.8 andshowing the valve in oneposition;

. Fig. Zisa-sectiQnsimiIar toFig. 1 trating the valve in another position;

.Fig. 3 is asectiontaken on line 3-3 of i1 lbllt without the valve piston; and, V

Fig. 4.is, a section taken :online 4-4of .Fig.--3 and illustratingfcertai-n details of the distributing valve assembly.

' Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several vlews of the drawings. V

In United StatesPatents 2,215,852 and 2,26%);423, dated September 2d, 1940,. and January 1-3, 1942,

but

respectively, andin the amending-application :of"

Lutwin C. Rottenand Victor G. Klein, Serial No. 567,590, filed December 1-1, 1944(maturedasPatent 2,404,315, dated Jul :16, 1946) are shownreciprocatingvair .engines and snap acting valve mechanisms 'for controlling engine supply "and exhaust. This invention is an'improvement upon the valve .mechanisms' of "such apparatus and, moreparticularly, an improvement overthe valve mechanismof said copending application.- .Insaid 'patents,lthe valvemechanism includes amechani:

17 Claims. (o1.. 12-1-.152

icazl over-centering linkage. .for operating the 13- valve wf'thecair engineiwith snap-action at the kenilrof aiu-llrstrok'e seas toiprovide'a quick cutoff. This invention provides a valve mechanism havringsuch snapzaction but rel-iminatingthe mechanical over cen'terlng linkage, t-herebyaccomplishingzthe isetme iresult withra simplifiedconstruction.

Referring now-to the drawings, there is .shown impart-the cylinder hand piston 3 of an air engine whlchqmay'drive 'a lubricant pum or the like. The cylinder isprovided withthe usual feed vSports1:3andan exhaustport :l 5.; A D-valve l1 much-of the apparatus corresponds-tothat shown in the aforesaid copending application.

. Ell-he :D-:va*lve slides :on ai-valve plate l9 having :an j-ex-haust port 2| -(i-n communication with the iengine' exhaust port and feed ports 23 (in communication with-the engine feed ports [3 ilhe D-va-lveis also disposed to slide in the rectangular central aperture of a guide and stop iplate 2 Shaving side gportionsrzi rior longitudinally .gulding the valveand raised bridge end portions or end stopsdll for limiting its stroke. The D- valve is jormed with spaced. detent notches 31 in :eachside-adapted :to receive detent balls -33. 'l hesebal ls are biased by springs :35 into engagemeat with .thersldes of the valve, and into the :notches-when-the valveis in one .or the other of its distributing po itions. The springs and balls are rretainedin channels {or pockets 3] stamped out ofiretainingplates 3 9. 'lhe notches 31 are spacedto latch the-.D-valvein one or the other of its distributin @oSi-tions. The detents prevent rebound of the D 'valve f-rom'one or the other of end stops 29 when-the valve is operating at high speed. Theplates 19,, 25 and 39' are .held in place by headed studs 41 passing looselylthrough apertures in the plates and threaded'into the engine cylinder. Springs reacting between theheads at the studs-and the plates resiliently hold in 63 is disposedin pocket 53 and is recrown 88. The upper boss 55 is also provided with a bore 1|, coaxial with the lower bore 51, a pocket 13, and a threaded bore 15. A packing 11 is dis-- posed in pocket 13 and is retained thereinby the.

outer rim 18 of a thimble or hat member 19 and";

a gland 8| threaded in counterbore 15. The interior of this thimble forms a continuation of bore 1 I.

end crown 88 of thimble 18.

Gland 8| is formed with a pocket in which; is disposed a packing 83 retained therein by the A double-ended piston 85 disposed within casv ing 45 is adapted to reciprocate therein from one 9 ing 83, the packing seals the clearance between the lower end of the piston and bore 51 and prevents the escape of air from chamber 52.

A stem 81 extends from the lower end of the piston 85 through thimble 35, packing 89, and gland 61. A similar but shorter stem 89 extends from the other end of the piston through the thimble 19, packing 83 and gland 8|. Stem 81 acts as an operating stem. Each stem is secured in its respective end of the piston by a collar 98 threaded into the end of the piston into engagement with a flange 92 on the stem. Sufllcient clearance is provided between each stem and.

its collar to permit radial adaptations of the stems for alignment with the apertures in the glands.

'Stems 81 and 89 have annular grooves 9| and 93, respectively, formed therein providing reduced portions adjacent the opposite ends of the piston 85. The stems 81 and 89 have loose fits (of the order of .001 inch) in their respective glands and thimbles, but they have leak-proof fits in the packings 69 and 83. When the stems are disposedin these packings, the packings seal upon the stems and prevent the escape of air. When the grooves 9| and 98 are disposed within the respective packings, air may escape freely.

Each stem thus cooperates with the respective packing 89 or 83 to provide a valve. Stem 81 functions to cut oil? escape oi. air from the air chest through glandG'l when thelower end of piston 85 is withdrawn from packing 63 (Fi .1) and to permit escape of air (through groove 9|) from ahead of the lower end of the piston when it moves downward into packing 63 (Fig. '2). Stem 89 functions to cut ofi escape of air from the air chest through gland 8| when the upper packings 63 and 11' so that when one end of the piston moves into a packing, the other end is not quite withdrawn from the other packing.

For example, when the upper end of the piston 4 withdrawn from packing 83. The ends of the piston thus function as valves with some socalled lap. Each boss 53 or 55 is a ported means. The bore provides a port between the corresponding end of the piston and the bore to admit air from chamber 52 into the bore behind the end of the piston when it is withdrawn .from the packing therein.

The upper portion of the D-valve is received with lost motion in a notch 91 in the piston 85. This notch is longer than the D-valve and its shoulders 89 and HM provide a lost-motion connection between the piston and the D-valve.

The operating stem 81 is provided at its lower end with a clevis I83 for connection to a valve gear of the type shown in the aforesaid Patent 2,404,315."Thi's valve gear is adapted to move piston85 .up when piston 3 nears the lower limit of its stroke, and to move the piston 85 down when piston 3 nears the upper limit of its stroke. The operation of the valve mechanism is as follows:

Assume that the piston 3 of the reciprocating engine is beginning an upward'stroke. The parts are then disposed in the position shown in Fig. 1. The valve piston 85 is at this time at the upper limit of its stroke. The groove 93 in the stem 89 is in the upper gland 8| and packing 83, but free from them. The upper end of piston 85 is within the packing 11 'so'that this packing seals against the piston and prevents the escape of air between the upper end of the piston 85 and bore 1|. The lower end of piston 85'is withdrawn from lower bore 51, but operating stem 81 is disposed in the lower packing 69 to provide a seal to prevent the escape of air from the chamber 52. The D-valve H has been moved by the shoulder 99 into position to establish communication from the chamber to the lower feed port I3 of the engine (through port 23) and from its upper feed port l8 through upper port 23 to the exhaust I5 through port 2|.

Only after the piston 3 nears the end of its stroke, the valve gear (not shown herein but in Patent 2,404,315) functions to move the operating stem 81 and piston 85 downward. The D-valve remains in the Fig. 1 position, being retained therein by the detent balls 33, until it is later engaged by the uppershoulder IUI. At some stage the upper end of the piston 85 has just cleared the packing 11 and stem 89 has entered the packing '83. This permits compressed air to pass from chamber 52 between the bore 1| and the upper end of the piston and into the space above thepiston. The seal provided by packing 83 andstem 89 retains this air in the space. Also, at this point, the lower end 'of the piston 85 has entered the packing 83 and the groove 9| has entered the acking 89 to release air pressure from beneathpiston 85. Consequently, the air pressure on the upper end of piston 85 drives it rapidly downward to drive the D-valve with quick or snap action to its other distributing position illustrated in Fig. 2. Air under the lower end of the piston is freely exhausted through the groove 9|. With the D-valve in the Fig. 2 position, communication is established for connecting air pressure from the air chest 45 (plenum chamber 52) to the upper feed port l3 of the engine through port 23 and from the lower port I3 through lower port 23 to the exhaust l5, and the piston 3 is forced downward. When piston 3 nears the lower'limit of its stroke, the valve'gear operates to move operating stem 81 and piston 85 upward and the D-valve is snappedback to the Fig; '1 position inthe's'ame manner as heretofore described, theoperations at opposite ends being, howeven-reversedl Thus, the valve mechanism functions to actu ate the D-valve with a snap action to provide quick cutoff at substantially full engine stroke. The pist n member '5 s actuated e p t of its stroke by a lost-motion mechanical linkage be tw en th p s c rod of e-engineered op a stem 81. This linkage is not shownor described herein s nc itdces not. tormannart of this invention and is particularly disclosed in the aforesaid Patent 2,404,315. The piston member 85 is actuat d o er the rema ndcrcr its stroke by the ope a ing ai pressure. During this latter pa t of its stroke, it actuates the D-valve. The valve mechanism does not include any mechanical over-centering linkage and, in eifect, includes .only one moving part-the piston member 85 and stems 81 and 89. This improved construction makes the mechanism simple to construct and maintain and reduces wear.

It will be understood that the valve mechanism is not limited in application to an air-operated engine. It may be applied to an engine operated by other pressure fluids.

A novel feature is the holding of the pairs of packings, such as 63 and 69 for example. 'One of these (63) is large enough to accommodate the piston 85; and the other (69) is small enough to accommodate the smaller piston constituted by the stem 81. By counterboring both of the members 53 and 61 and placing the respective packings at the bases of the counterbores and providing the hat-shaped member 65, both packings may readily be held in position, although only a single threaded connection is used between the members 53 and 61, for example,

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim: 7

1. In apparatus of the character described, a casing formed to provide a chamber for fluid pressure intermediate longitudinally spaced bores, each of said bores opening into said chamber, a double-ended piston reciprocable in said casing and having its ends slidable in said bores, said ends having a sumciently loose fit in said bores to permit passage of fluid therebetween, a packing in each bore adapted to engage the end of the piston therein in fluid-tight relation when said end is moved into said packing, the length of said piston and the spacing of said packings being such that when one end of the piston is withdrawn from the packing in one bore, the other end of the piston is moved into the packing in the other bore, whereby fluid pressure from the casing is admitted to said one bore and cut off from the other.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a casing formed to provide a chamber for fluid pressure intermediate longitudinally spaced bores, each of said bores opening into said chamber, a double-ended piston reciprocable in said casing and having its ends slidable in said bores, said ends having a sunlciently loose fit in said bores to permit passage of fluid therebetween, a packing in each bore adapted to engage the end of the piston therein in-fluid-tight relation when said-end is moved-'- into said packing, the length of said piston and the spacing oflsaid packin'gs being such that when one endof the piston is withdrawn rom the packing in onebore, the other end of the piston is moved into the packing in the other-bore, whereby vfluid vvpressure from the casing is admitted to said one'bore and cut on from the other, and means including valves movable'with said piston adapted to 'cut oif escape of; fluid pressure from said one bore while venting said other bore to exhaust,

3.'A'valve mechanism for actuating :the distributing valve; of a fluid-operated reciprocating engine, comprising a casing" formed to provide ap'ressu-re -chamber intermediate longitudinally spaced bores, each bore being in fluid communication with said chamber, a piston reciprocable in said casing having its ends slidable in said bores, a packing in each bore adapted to effect a fluid seal upon the end of the piston therein, said packings being spaced a distance less than the length of said piston, a gland in each bore retaining the packing therein, an operating stem extending from one end of the piston through the related gland, a stem extending from the other end of the piston through the other gland, .each stem having a reduced portion adjacent the respective end of the piston, and a packing in each gland adapted to efiect a fluid seal upon the unreduced portion of the stem therein.

4. A reciprocating means for operating a valve member in a fluid pressure chest, comprising opposite coaxial recesses in the chest having coaxial outlets, coaxial seals associated with the recesses and outlets, a double-ended piston reciprocating between said recesses and adapted to have one end enter one sealed recess while having its other end emerge from the other sealed recess, and coaxial valve means extending from opposite ends of said piston respectively passing through said outlets for alternately opening and closing them, the valve means on a given end oi. said piston closing its outlet when the adjacent end of said piston emerges from its recess and adapted to open said outlet when said adjacent end enters said recess.

5. A reciprocating means for operating a valve member in a fluid pressure chest, comprising opposite coaxial recesses in the chest having coaxial outlets of smaller sizes than the recesses, seals associated with the recesses and outlets, a double-ended piston reciprocating between said recesses and adapted to have one end enter one sealed recess while having its other end emerge from the other sealed recess, and extending coaxial valve means of reduced size extending from opposite ends of said piston respectively passing through said outlets and being grooved for alternately opening and closing the outlets, the valve means of a given end of said piston closing its outlet when said piston end emerges from its recess and adapted to open said outlet when said end enters said recess.

6. In apparatus of the class described, stepped cylinder means for accommodating stepped piston means comprising a member having a counterbore, a ring packing in the base of said counterbore, a hat-shaped member in the counterbore, said hat-shaped member forming a cylinder and having an outer rim seating on said packing and having a crown including an opening, a member threaded into the counterbore around said hat-shaped member, said threaded member having an opening and a counterbore,

and a'second packing in the last-mentioned counterbore which is held by the crown of said hat-shaped member. 7

7. In a. valve-operating mechanism, a. pressure-containing chest, opposite cup-shaped re- 5 adjacent piston end is in the adjacent recess and 15 to close said outlet when said adjacent piston end recedes from said adjacent recess, the opposite piston ends and valves operating inversely as the piston reciprocates, and self-aligning meansconnecting the valves with the respective piston ends,

e H VICTOR G. KLEIN.

RUDY F, SCHNELLER.

REFERENCES CITED m The'following references are of record in the file of: this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 368,649 Carpenter Aug. 23, 1887 330 888 Hanscom Apr. 10, 1888 

